Zafar Iqbal
According to the Transparency International, Pakistan ranked 124th out of 180 countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index 2022, with a score of 31 out of 100. This means that Pakistan is perceived as a highly corrupt country by experts and business people. Corruption affects many sectors and institutions in Pakistan, such as the judiciary, the police, the bureaucracy, the media, the education, the health, and the public procurement. Corruption also undermines the democratic process and the rule of law, and fuels social and political unrest.
According to the World Bank, Pakistan’s economy grew by 1.5% in the fiscal year 2022, after contracting by 0.4% in the previous year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the economic recovery remains fragile and uneven, as the country faces multiple challenges, such as high inflation, fiscal deficits, external imbalances, low tax revenues, low human capital, weak governance, and environmental risks. The World Bank projects that Pakistan’s economy will grow by 2% in the fiscal year 2023, and by 4.2% in the fiscal year 2024, subject to the successful implementation of structural reforms and the availability of sufficient financing.
According to the United Nations Development Programme, Pakistan has a population of 233 million people, of which 64% are under the age of 30. Pakistan has a Human Development Index (HDI) value of 0.557, which puts it in the medium human development category, ranking 154th out of 189 countries. Pakistan’s HDI value is below the average of 0.634 for countries in South Asia, and below the average of 0.581 for countries in the medium human development group. Pakistan’s HDI value reflects the low levels of education, health, and income in the country, as well as the high levels of inequality and poverty.
According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), youth empowerment is “the process of enhancing the status of young people, boosting their opportunities and facilitating their participation in decision-making processes that affect their lives” . Youth empowerment is essential for achieving sustainable development, as it enables young people to contribute to the social, economic, and environmental well-being of their communities and countries. Youth empowerment also promotes the values of democracy, human rights, peace, and social justice, and fosters the inclusion and diversity of youth voices and perspectives.
Pakistan is a young country, with more than 68% of its population below the age of 30, and around 27% between the ages of 15 and 29 . This means that Pakistan has a large and potential demographic dividend, which can be harnessed for the development and prosperity of the country. However, this also means that Pakistan faces many challenges and opportunities in empowering its youth, especially amid the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and its socio-economic impacts.
Some of the key dimensions of youth empowerment in Pakistan are:
Social empowerment: This refers to the ability of young people to access and enjoy their basic rights and freedoms, such as education, health, safety, and dignity. It also involves the recognition and respect of the diversity and identity of young people, and their participation and engagement in social and cultural activities and movements. Social empowerment of youth can help to reduce poverty, inequality, discrimination, and violence, and to promote social cohesion, solidarity, and harmony. Some of the challenges and opportunities for social empowerment of youth in Pakistan are:
- Education: Education is a fundamental right and a key factor for social empowerment, as it equips young people with the knowledge, skills, and values that they need to thrive in life and society. However, Pakistan has a low literacy rate of 60%, and a high dropout rate of 77% among youth . The quality and relevance of education is also poor, and the access and affordability of education is unequal, especially for girls, rural, and marginalized youth. The COVID-19 pandemic has further disrupted the education system, affecting 1.5 billion students worldwide, including millions in Pakistan . Therefore, there is a need to improve the education system in Pakistan, by increasing the budget, enhancing the infrastructure, updating the curriculum, expanding the coverage, ensuring the equity, and promoting the innovation and technology in education.
- Health: Health is another essential right and a crucial component of social empowerment, as it affects the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of young people. However, Pakistan has a weak and underfunded health system, which fails to provide adequate and quality health services and facilities to the population, especially to the youth. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the fragility and vulnerability of the health system, and has increased the health risks and challenges for young people, such as infections, malnutrition, mental stress, substance abuse, and sexual and reproductive health issues. Therefore, there is a need to strengthen the health system in Pakistan, by increasing the investment, improving the governance, enhancing the capacity, ensuring the accessibility, and promoting the awareness and prevention of health issues among youth.
- Safety: Safety is a basic need and a vital aspect of social empowerment, as it enables young people to live in a secure and peaceful environment, free from fear and violence. However, Pakistan has a volatile and unstable security situation, which exposes young people to various forms of violence and conflict, such as terrorism, extremism, sectarianism, militancy, crime, and domestic abuse. The COVID-19 pandemic has also increased the vulnerability and exposure of young people to violence, as it has created more stress, frustration, and anger in the society, and has reduced the opportunities and outlets for youth. Therefore, there is a need to improve the safety and security of young people in Pakistan, by addressing the root causes and drivers of violence and conflict, strengthening the rule of law and justice, enhancing the protection and support services, and promoting the culture of peace and tolerance among youth.
Cultural empowerment: This refers to the ability of young people to express and celebrate their cultural identity and diversity, and to participate and contribute to the cultural life and heritage of their communities and countries. It also involves the respect and appreciation of the cultural differences and similarities of young people, and their involvement and influence in the cultural policies and practices that affect their lives. Cultural empowerment of youth can help to preserve and promote the cultural richness and diversity of the country, and to foster the intercultural dialogue and understanding among different groups and generations. Some of the challenges and opportunities for cultural empowerment of youth in Pakistan are:
- Identity: Identity is a core element of cultural empowerment, as it defines who young people are, where they belong, and what they value. However, Pakistan has a complex and diverse cultural landscape, which consists of various ethnic, linguistic, religious, and regional groups and identities. This diversity can be a source of strength and beauty, but also a source of conflict and division, as some groups and identities are more dominant and privileged than others, and some are more marginalized and oppressed than others. The COVID-19 pandemic has also increased the identity crisis and confusion among young people, as it has disrupted their normal routines and activities, and has isolated them from their peers and communities. Therefore, there is a need to enhance the identity and diversity of young people in Pakistan, by recognizing and respecting their multiple and fluid identities, empowering and protecting their minority and vulnerable identities, and promoting their common and shared identity as Pakistani youth.
- Participation: Participation is a key indicator of cultural empowerment, as it reflects the extent and quality of young people’s engagement and involvement in the cultural life and heritage of their communities and countries. However, Pakistan has a low and limited level of cultural participation among youth, as there are few and inadequate opportunities and spaces for young people to express and enjoy their cultural interests and talents, such as arts, music, literature, sports, and media. The COVID-19 pandemic has further reduced the cultural participation of young people, as it has closed and restricted the cultural venues and events, and has limited the mobility and interaction of youth. Therefore, there is a need to increase the cultural participation of young people in Pakistan, by creating and expanding the cultural opportunities and spaces for youth, supporting and facilitating their cultural interests and talents, and celebrating and showcasing their cultural achievements and contributions.
- Influence: Influence is a critical outcome of cultural empowerment, as it demonstrates the impact and value of young people’s voice and perspective in the cultural policies and practices that affect their lives. However, Pakistan has a weak and ineffective level of cultural influence among youth, as there are few and insufficient mechanisms and platforms for young people to influence and shape the cultural decisions and actions of their communities and countries, such as cultural councils, forums, and networks. The COVID-19 pandemic has also diminished the cultural influence of young people, as it has diverted and reduced the attention and resources for the cultural issues and challenges of youth. Therefore, there is a need to enhance the cultural influence of young people in Pakistan, by establishing and strengthening the mechanisms and platforms for youth to influence and shape the cultural policies and practices, empowering and enabling their cultural voice and perspective, and recognizing and acknowledging their cultural role and value.
Political empowerment: This refers to the ability of young people to access and exercise their political rights and responsibilities, such as voting, running for office, joining political parties, and advocating for their interests and causes. It also involves the representation and inclusion of young people in the political institutions and processes that affect their lives, and their accountability and responsiveness to the political leaders and actors. Political empowerment of youth can help to strengthen the democracy, governance, and rule of law in the country, and to foster the civic engagement, activism, and leadership of youth. Some of the challenges and opportunities for political empowerment of youth in Pakistan are:
- Rights: Rights are the foundation of political empowerment, as they grant young people the legal and constitutional status and entitlements to participate and contribute to the political affairs of their communities and countries. However, Pakistan has a low and inconsistent level of political rights among youth, as there are many legal and constitutional barriers and gaps that limit and restrict the political participation and representation of young people, such as the minimum age requirement, the voter registration process, the electoral system, and the political party regulations. The COVID-19 pandemic has also threatened the political rights of young people, as it has created more uncertainty and instability in the political system, and has raised doubts and concerns about the transparency and fairness of the electoral process. Therefore, there is a need to improve the political rights of young people in Pakistan, by removing and reforming the legal and constitutional barriers and gaps that limit and restrict the political participation and representation of youth, ensuring and protecting their political status and entitlements, and promoting and facilitating their political awareness and education.
- Representation: Representation is a measure of political empowerment, as it indicates the level and quality of young people’s presence and involvement in the political institutions and processes that affect their lives, such as the parliament, the government, the judiciary, and the civil society. However, Pakistan has a low and inadequate level of political representation among youth, as there are few and insufficient young people who are elected or elevated to legislatures, political executives or other political appointments.
Therefore, it is critical for the youth in Pakistan to be empowered socially, culturally and especially politically. Youth empowerment can be achieved by providing young people with quality education, health, and safety, by respecting and celebrating their cultural identity and diversity, by involving and representing them in the political institutions and processes, and by supporting and facilitating their civic engagement, activism, and leadership. By empowering the youth, Pakistan can harness its demographic dividend, and ensure a bright and prosperous future for its people.
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